Process of producing ketones of high boiling-points from acetone and homologues thereof.



JOSEF HERTKORN, F HATTERSHEIM, GERMANY.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING KETONES OF HIGH BOILING-POINTS FROM ACETONE AND HOMOLOGUES THEREOF.

ms Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEF HEn'rKoRN, a subject of the German Emperor, and resident of Hatt ersheim, Germany,- have in-.

vented certain new and useful. Improvements in Processes of Producing Ketones of High Boiling-Points from Acetone and .Homologue's Thereof, of which the following is a specification.

In accordance with knownprocesses for the production of condensed ketones of high boiling pointsfrom 'ketones of low boiling points, by means of condensing agents, mixtures containing products of decomposition have been. frequently obtained.

. Strong acids and caustic alkalis have partly a substituting action and partly a decomposing one, or else, on heating, they produce a deep seated interamolecular change giving rise to aromatic hydrocarbons or there are produced in. addition to a mixture of mesityl oxid, phorone isophorone and xylitol, ketone alcohols that are easily decom- 'mass,jthe acetone-disappearing while theposed, or the alcoholates thereof and other products which are diificultly or uneconomicallyseparated from one another. Thus acetone whenv mixed in accordance with known processes with excess 'of caustic lime,

or burnt lime, or caustic alkalis, and on being left for some length of time with these substances produces a semisolid to solid subsequent distillation, after several days, I over condensing agents with or without the additionofwater yields a mixture of phorone or isophorone, mesityl oxid, xylitol,

'ketone alcohols and the like, in addition to large amounts ofdark colored products of decomposition. The yield of p'horone or isophorone and mesityl oxi d amounts under most favorable conditions to about 50 per cent. of the acetone employed; further these products are not fast to light and air, but on water at'ordinary, or moderately high, temperatures, or the 'oxids with-exclusion ofwater and with heat, on being kept in contact for some time with the acetone, have not only a condensin action on the acetone and the primary pro ucts arising therefrom, such as a mlxture of phorone or isophorone,

Specification of Letters Patent; Patented June 18, 1912,

Application filed February 26, 1912. Serial No. 679,941.

mesityl oxid, xylitol, andlike substances of hlgher boiling points, butthey have also the property of fixing water with the formation of ketonealcohols, 0r alcoholates, and the further products of decomposition as a consequence of the action of the alkali hydroxid. The mixture of substances first formed at ordinary temperature undergoes under the prolonged action and in the dis tillation over water containing condensation agents a further mutual decomposition and a thorough change and decomposition according to the manner and the amount of water present and the duration of hgating.

The invention therefore comprises the method of using the oxi'ds of-the earth alkalis, such. for instance as calcium, barium, strontium and magnesium oxids in molecular proportion or in slight excess-with complete exclusion of water and alcohol for the purpose of forming mesityl oxid or. the higher roduct of condensation of the formula CE water in amounts corresponding to both substances with the anhydrous oxids in the cold or at ordinary or moderately high temperature and especially in a definitely limited time with the exclusion of heatand distillation. The apfplicant has thus found a method capable o being'readily carried out for producing these substances separately in a practically pure statejwithout any yroducts'and products of "decomposition on a large scale and in a cheap and economical mannen The reaction in the absenceof waterfand alcohol in the cold or at ordinarycr rudder- H O by the chemical binding of ate temperatures takes ,place' inaccordance with the followingequationss eo n o oaow n o et(any;

taloweuoe In order to get rid of the refiner drocarbons or extracted, and the extracting 0 agent removed with the last remains of the condensed products by distillation-income am I offthe earth alkali hydroxide oh-the 31631- .The time occupied for the conversion of acetone into mesityl oxidfby means of granulated burnt lime at the ordinary temperarotated vessel is ture, 2 6. between 10 and 18 centigrade is about from 3 to 5 days according to the granulation of the lime and the motion of the mixture. To obtain a uniform reaction a constant mingling of the constituents is required. Similar are obtained in accordance with-the presentprocess from the homologues of acetone, such as methyl-ethyl-ketone, di-ethyl-ketone, methyl-propyl-ketone and the -like. The neutral substances obtained are used as solvents for resins and cellulose esters in lieu of the unstable. alkyl esters, such for instance as amyl acetate, which split off acid and are injurious in their action.

Example: 1000 kilograms of anhydrous acetone or a homologue thereof and from 550 to 650 kilograms of freshly burnt and granulated lime containing about 80 per cent. calcium oxid or the equivalent amount of barium, stontium, or magnesium oxid, are introduced into a tightly closed container provided with stirring devices or into a rotated vessel. ,The stirring device or the allowed to run for from 3 to 5 days at the ordinary or at moderately high temperature. The progress of the reaction is controlled by taking samples which are subjected-to fractional distillation. If the liquor shows the constant boiling point of from 120 to 132 centigrade and if on pouring oil a sample on paper it continues free from odor after a few minutes in the air the mixing is at once stopped and the liquor is allowed to stand a short time and settle. The perfectly colorless and clear mesityl oxid is drawn off at once from the bottom sediment and can be used directly as a solvent for resins and cellulose esters, or it is first subjected to distillation. The rest of the mesityl oxid is removed from the lime residue by lixiviation, or. extraction with hydrocarbons such as bensin, benzol and the like which can be used at the same time as aldiluting and dissolving agent; the last traces together with the solvent are removed by distillation in 'vacuo, or the reaction product is distilled off quickly in vacuo over the metal oxid. The condensation is heating, a slight excess of calcium oxid or by pressure or an intimate mixing and fine granulation of the burnt lime. Or the acetone through a tower or battery of calcium oxid at a definite velocity of flow. The formation of higher products of condensation recondensation products 'ture below that at which,

is passed able though slight odor, is colorless and is,

unchanged by light and air and quite innocuous.

What I clainris: 1. The process of producing ketonesof high boiling points from ketones of the comparison with the for-- v and a larger excess of burnt v The yield a homologous series of which acetone is the lowest member which comprises treating such ketones with the oxid of an alkaline earth'metal and maintaining the reaction liquid in constant circulation process, and in separating the resulting condensation products from the reaction mass before, and at a temperature below that at which, the formation of the objectionable impurities and by-products takes place.

- 2. The from acetone which comprises treating acetone with the oxid ofan alkaline earth metal in the proportion of about one molecule of such oxid to two molecules of acetone and maintaining the reaction liquid in constant circulation'throughout the-process, and in separating the resulting mesityl oxid from the reaction mass before, and at a temperathe formation of objectionable impurities and by-products takes place. a

3. The process of producing mesityl oxid from acetone which comprises treating acetone with calcium oxid in the proportion of about one molecule of such oxid to two molecules of acetone and maintaining the reaction liquid in constant circulation throughout the process, and in separating the resulting mesityl oxid from the reaction JOSEFHERTKORN.

Witnesses a FRANZ HASSLAOHER, MICHEL VOLK.

throughout the 

